It’s a cold January here in Minnesota and I’ve had a number of people reach out as to why their hens aren’t laying eggs Keeping chickens can be a rewarding experience, especially when you enjoy the fresh eggs they provide However, it can be concerning when your hens suddenly stop laying! There are a few different reasons why chickens stop laying eggs and today we’re going to look at each one of those
Reasons Birds Stop Laying
If you’re raising chickens, one of the reasons that you probably started with chickens is so that you could have fresh eggs It can be a bummer when your hens stop laying What causes hens to stop laying eggs? Let’s dive into why birds will stop laying
The Science of Why Birds Lay Eggs
In nature, most birds will lay eggs only in certain times of the year They will lay eggs when it’s the best time to raise their young The ‘best’ time depends on temperature, whether food is readily available and other factors from the environment Some birds will
Why Chickens Slow Down Laying in the Fall
The long, warm days of summer are coming to a swift end Just as quickly, you may have noticed a sudden drop in your flock’s egg production!
Chickens will slow down laying during the fall for two reasons; less sunlight and the molt
In the world of chickens, less daylight equals less prolactin
Prolactin exists in most creatures and is a reproductive regulating hormone Prolactin is responsible for stimulating the ovulation cycle in a hen No one really knows why, but in our domestic chickens, prolactin levels decrease when days begin to have less than 12 hours of sunlight
Without a normal ovulation